Vehicle actuated gates



Sept. 24, 1957 Filed Aug. 21, 1956 J. A. GOULET VEHICLE ACTUATED GATES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 lqveaytor u' Joseph A. Gould" Sept. 24, 1957 J. A. GoULET VEHICLE ACTUATED GATES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 21. 1956 United States Patent 'VEHICLE ACTUATED GATES Joseph Alphonse Goulet, St. Malo, Manitoba, Canada Application August 21, 1956, Serial No. 605,243

1 Claim. (Cl, 4319F18) The invention relates to the mechanism ope-ning a gate by the weight of a vehicle which is to pass through the gateway, and the closing of same thereafter. The principal object of the invention is to provide a pivotal lifting gate operated by the rise or fall of a cross beam between the gate posts and said be-am controlled by the weight of the vehicle to pass therethrough.

A further obj-ect of the invention is to construct the gate in two oppositely pivoting sections so Itha-t each end of the beam will operate a section for balanced movement of both the beam and the sections.

A further object of the invention is to construct the device such that the sections will operate relatively slow but positive and will .close in lthe same 4manner so that Sudden jars on the bearings and supports will be reduced to a minimum.

A further object of the invention is to utilize counterbalancing weights to `further facilitate the smooth operation of the sections.

A further object of the invention is to construct the device so the beam may be operated .each side of the gate by removable ramps which may be full size platforms of greater width than the vehicle or may be spaced pairs to deter animals from standing thereon.

A further object of the invention is to design the device so the gates can be positively held locked in either the open or shut position.

A still further object of the invention is to design the device in a very simple manner for simplicity of operation, economical manufacture, ease of assembly or dismantling, and as a knock-down construction for compact storage or shipping.

With the above important and other minor objects in view, which will become more apparent as the description proceeds, the invention consists essentially in the arrangement and construction of the various parts hereinafter more particularly described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a face view of the gate construction with the ramps removed therefrom.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 2 2, Figure 1 and showing the ramps in position thereon.

Figure 3 is an `enlarged Vertical sectional View of one end of the gate and taken on the line 3-3, Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an enlarged perspective view of one end of the control beam and the parts yattached thereto.

In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

A pair of gate posts and 11 are positioned one on each side of a roadway. Each of the posts consist of a pair of spaced standards 12 and 13 having their lower ends jointly sunk into suitable concrete 14. The gate in the present instance is formed from two sections or fences 15 and 16 which nearly meet at the centre 17 while their longitudinal bars 18 and 19 have their outer ends received between the standards of the posts for pivotal support on upper and lower bolts 20 and 21 which pass through the posts. Vertical pickets 22 are pivotally sup- 2,807,107 Patented Sept. 24, 1957 2 ported in spaced relation on each of the upper and lower bars by lag screws or bolts 23. When the sections are raised on their pivot bolts 2@ and 2,1, the pickets move closer together, as indicated in dotted outline at 24 in Figure l.

The pivoting ends of Ithe bars '18 of the sections are reinforced by upper and lower straps 25 and 26 which are held thereon by suitable bolts 27. The straps `25 have their outer extremities rolled into eyes 25 lto pivotally receive and support clevises y28 which areV pivoted thereto by bolts 29. The extreme ends of the bars 18 are cut back at a slant, shown at 30, -to permit free -play -t o the clevises.

A control beam'31 is positioned below the sections 1S and 16 and extends between the posts 10 and 11. Both ends of this beam are notched back, as at 32, Figure 4, to provide central narrower tongues ,33 which are slidably received between the standards 12 and k13 of the posts. lStrap bars 34 extend around the ends of these tongues -for reinforcement and bolts 35 pass therethrough to hold them in place. Eye bolts 36 also pass through the extreme ends of the 'beam and the straps 34. The eyes of these bolts are connected by rods 37 to the bottom of the clevises 28, nuts 38 providing adjustment. The central upper face of the control beam carries a rubber mat 39 and the t-wo `adjacent inner pickets of the sections `each carry a downwardly extending Al..-shaped bar 4t) which rests on the mat to ,support the 'inner ends of the sections.

From the above it will be seen that when the sections are in their horizontal position, the beam 31 is in its highest position, as shown in the drawings. When the beam iis pressed down the sections ywill be lifted to the posi-tions shown in dotted outline in Figure 1.v To hold the 'beam up, a weight 41 is provided on the outer side Lof each post. These weights consist of cans suitably lled with gravel or stones 42 and they are supported by cables 43 which pass over pulleys 44 which in turn are supported by U-shaped hangers 45 carried by the posts. After passing over the pulleys, the cables 43 pass down to be secured to the eye bolts 36. In order to limit the up movement of the beam, a bolt 46 passes through each of the posts and Iabove said beam, for contact.

By observing Figure 2 it will be seen that a pair of ramps 47 are shown, one on each side of the gate sections. These ramps each have one end resting on the control beam while their opposite ends rest on Iconcrete steps 48 just slightly below the road level. These ramps may be the full width or more of an automobile to receive same, or they may comprise two separate sections properly spaced apart to just receive the wheels of same. In country operation, such separate sections will tend to have a deterring eifect on animals, such as cows or horses, to prevent them from operating the gate.

By the above arrangement, an 'automobile can drive onto either one of the ramps 47 and the weight of same will cause the control beam to move down, lifting the counterbalancing weights. The gate sections will move up, as shown in dotted outline in Figure l. When open, there is plenty of head room for the automobile to pass through the gateway, and when the automobile drives off the opposite ramp, the weights 41 will bring the gate sections down to their horizontal position to again close off the gateway.

In order to restrict the movement of the gate sections and prevent excessive jars thereon, each of the posts 10 and 11 support an inner bracket 49, each bracket pivotally receiving at 50 the upper ends of rods 51, each rod having a lower piston 52 attached. The pistons operate within similar cylinders 53 and their lower ends are forked at 54 to span and be pivotally connected to the control beam 31 by bolts 55 passing therethrough. The cylinders are iilled with oil 56 While the pistons each t have a restricted passage 57 therethrough. When the control beam is moving either up or down, the cylinders move therewith and past the pistons and so force the oil through the restricted passages therein. The passage resistance to the oil movement regulates the speed at which the gate sections will operate.

A further pair of `strap bearings S and 59 are provided on one side of each of the posts and 11. These bearings each rotatably support a vertical rod 60. The upper end of each rod is bent in a handle 61 while the lower end is bent in a pointed crank or finger 62. The positions of the fingers are such that they can be swung under the control beam by the handles to lock the beam in the gate closed position, or can also be swung thereover to lock the beam down in the gate opened position.

It will be noted that the ramps just sit loosely in their positions and they can be manually lifted therefrom for cleaning thereunder, or when any work has to be done on the gate mechanism where they interfere. The complete gate mechanism is very simple to make and operate and can be produced at a reasonable cost. It will require very little upkeep. As all parts are held together and operate on bolts, it forms an ideal knock-down construction for ease of assembly by unskilled workmen, and just as easily dismantled. This knock-down con struction also permits compact quantity storage in warehouses and low rates when being shipped.

While counterweights 41 have been shown and work very satisfactory, it will be readily appreciated that heavy coil springs could be used between the eye bolts 36 and the brackets 45 for the same purpose.

What I claim as my invention is:

A vehicle actuated gate, comprising: a pair of gate posts dening a gateway therebetween; a pair of aligned gate sections normally closing off said gateway and each presenting upper and lower horizontal bars; the bars of each section having one end thereof pivotally mounted to one of said posts and such that each section can be swung upwardly on two pivot points from its corresponding post; a control beam positioned across said gateway, below said bars; upper and lower reinforcing straps on and at the pivoting ends of said upper bars, and a bolt connected therethrough; a pair of U-shaped reinforcing straps, each enclosing one of the ends of said control beam, and a bolt connected therethrough; said upper reinforcing straps each having their outer end terminating in an eye and pivotally receiving a elevis; a pair of rods each having one end thereof connected through an eye bolt with one of said U-shaped reinforcing straps and the opposite ends thereof each connected to one of said clevises; a pulley carried by each of said posts; a pair of cables each having one end thereof secured to one end of said control beam and the other ends thereof each passing over one of said pulleys and supporting a counterbalancing weight; a pair of closed oil containing cylinders, one at each end of said control beam; the lower portion of each of said cylinders forked to span and pivotally connect to its corresponding end of said control beam; each of said cylinders having a slidable piston therein with a control rod extending therefrom, through the upper end of the cylinder, to connect with one of said lower horizontal bars; a restricted passage through each of `said pistons for movement of oil therethrough; and a pair of removable ramps, one on either side of said gate; the outer end of each of said ramps pivotally ground mounted and the inner end thereof resting on said control beam for downward movement thereof when a vehicle is supported on either one of said ramps.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,327,860 Cassidy Ian. 13, 1920 1,672,723 McClary June 5, 1928 1,975,953 Keys Oct. 9, 1934 2,083,855 McReynolds June 15, 1937 2,594,033 Kemp Apr. 22, 1952 

